Discussion Questions - Week 1

What is the first thing that you see when walking into this supermarket?

The first thing I typically see when walking into a super market is carts and baskets for customers to use while shopping for their goods. There are also as an example of Hannaford, they have posters advertised before even walking in, advertising the deals they have on certain foods and products. Hannaford also puts products at the door before you walk in that go with the season that people typically buy, as an example, in the winter they put out shovels and windshield washer fluid- products people are typically buying to help make the long winter easier.

I took the picture on Slide 2 yesterday night when I was at Hannaford market in South Portland. Read the article underneath the slide and explain what market basket analysis is? Why do we buy what we buy?

Market Basket analysis is a technique based off a study done to see how people have bought one item and typically buy another item with it. As shown on slide two with the Bounty paper towels and Dawn dish soap, they have a correlation to messes. Dawn is used to clean dishes or a mess while the paper towels are used to dry off a dish or finish cleaning up the mess made. This is kind of like the example I used above with the shovels and windshield washer fluid. Both can be associated with winter along with creating an easier winter as the fluid cleans the windshield of a car and the shovel helps clear a path for the car. 

Your reflection on the Water: Top Secret Masaru Emoto video (slide 8) from a marketing perspective.

  This video shows how man different ways water can be formed and seen by others, just like in marketing. The different ways of marking shape an idea the customer has about the product, like the water. The before photos of the water could be a the thought bubble of what a person assumes’s a product is and what is does, then the after photo’s being a much clearer constructed thought bubble of what the product is. Another example is how marking advertises. One year the advertisement might be a little unclear costing the sales of that product to go down or be dull. Then after that year seeing how this advertisement needs constructing, now has a much clearer message and more sales. 

Choose a pioneer of the "Share Economy" you are familiar with.

    Craigslist 

4.1.Explain Craigslist marketing strategy using The Four Ps of Marketing

PRICE: One of the best yet worse things about a company like craigslist is people are able to buy, sell, trade goods for a price they may not find in an actual store. The prices are set for a consumer to buy at how the seller fells is appropriate. People who might throw there useless objects in the dumpster now can get a profit from it while another can use it at their own needs! The ad’s are also free to post! 

PRODUCT: Anything someone could basically think of- from a car to a tool!

PLACE: Any device that has internet connection. It’s online website making it easy for people to search and browse to get to exactly what they are looking for!

PROMOTION: Easy search engines and categories allowing customers to find what they are looking for without having to leave there house (sometimes). Items are at a cheaper price and items not sold in store anymore can be found here (such an antiques)

4.2.What does the competition look like? Can Craigslist sustain its competitive advantage? Why or why not?

Competition is markets, retail outlets, and manufactures. As long as craigslist keeps its ability to delete posts after 30 days if not renewed by the seller before then It will help people find access to goods quicker and easier. With there advantage of being online, and people are purchasing goods right In there very homes, they automatically have a better advantage than some of there competition who may not have online access. The prices of items can also be cheaper then those found in stores. A website where people can swap, sell, and buy has the ability to also reuse and recycle items limiting waste for the unused items that could have gone to the trash. 

4.3.How does the sharing economy impact marketing? 

There are many advantages to the sharing economy with companies like craigslist. With the ability to sell online people are benefiting as the seller for a profit and to get the item out of there house, as for the buyer, they’re benefiting by having the item they were looking for. The operation for selling and buying through this website also prevents people from having to leave there house. This is good for those who may not have time to go out and search for what they are looking for, can’t leave the house without assistance, and the possibly of saving money (or need a little extra cash is the seller). The problem with it being online is there are no opportunity for jobs other than the people behind making the website and keeping it open for easier access. There is also the possibly of a scam if someone isn’t careful with being aware of skeptics on shopping online. 
4.4.Perform a SWOT analysis for Craigslist. What are its biggest threats and which opportunities should it pursue? You may attach an attachment if necessary.

S- Has been in the market for a good amount of time, widely known by people    across the U.S, used by many people, online access, cheaper deals 

W- Scammers, Lack of information from the buyer, not always intuitive, not advertised a lot for people to know about

O- Resources can expand, Development, Reduce, reuse, and recycling products eliminating waste, profit for buyer

T- Safety problems with scammers, lack of adaptability and change, other websites like Ebay

The biggest threats are are other markets like Ebay which are always expanding. Another is scammers, people who take money and lie about the product in any kind of way. 

The opportunities are how resources can expand, the development, and being ale to recycle products that have already been used eliminating waste. There is also a profit for the buyer (earning extra for savings or a profit towards other goods within the website or for another manufacturer).

5. What is the best way for Craigslist to grow its business? Justify your answer.

               Using the iceberg analogy is a great way for them to grow their business. Advertising more through social media will expand their consumers letting them know there is other places to get there resources than just in the stores. Craigslist also needs to create the best safe environment they can with getting rid of the scammers, which this isn’t always possible they have a small article in their website describing how to avoid them. Updating their website so it’s easily accessible for consumers who aren’t always technology based like some older folks who are just getting the hang of the new technology era. The creators of the website could always do a SWOT analysis every couple of months to make sure everything is going securely and working at a professional level. They even could look at there website activity and add a feedback page from their customers so they can always be renewing their webpage outside of what the creators can think by themselves.